August 1, 2016
ALBANY – A coalition that includes developers and landlords has written to Gov. Cuomo asking him to sign into law a bill that would prohibit the advertising of illegal units on online home-sharing sites like Airbnb.
“Enacting this bill would be an important step in the right direction toward eliminating illegal short-term rentals, which reduce the City’s housing supply, cause safety issues, increase building wear and tear costs, and create quality of life problems,” the groups wrote.
The letter from the Real Estate Board of New York and the Rent Stabilization Board, among others, insists the legislation is not anti-technology but rather a new tool to crack down on a prior law that already makes home sharing in multifamily units in New York City illegal for less than 30 days illegal.
Others signing on to the letter are the Community Housing Improvement Program, the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums, the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums, and the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.
The bill has managed to unify real estate interests and union, tenant and affordable housing activists.
A spokesman for Gov. Cuomo said the bill is under review. Airbnb wants him to veto it.